title: Treatment of neoplastic meningitis with intraventricular thiotepa and methotrexate.
abstract: Twenty-five patients with involvement of the meninges by disseminated cancers were treated weekly with intraventricular thiotepa (10 mg) and methotrexate (10 mg) and with radiation therapy. Twenty-two of the 25 patients were clinically improved or stable. Malignant cells were cleared from the cerebrospinal fluid in 76% of the patients. Myelosuppression was the dose-limiting toxic effect, and neurotoxicity occurred in three patients. Combination chemotherapy employing thiotepa and methotrexate is a safe and effective treatment for neoplastic meningitis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013852:Thiotepa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013852:Thiotepa; D008727:Methotrexate